by Dave Castille, President, FEI Systems
As we watched the tallies of COVID-19-related deaths inch closer and closer to 1 million in the U.S. last year, the death toll relating to another epidemic also climbed to record highs.
Substance use disorder continues to plague countless individuals, and COVID-19 era shutdowns and job losses undoubtedly made many individuals more vulnerable. Last year, we saw the highest number of overdose-related deaths in a single year – more than 100,000. This staggering statistic only proves that this health crisis requires our continued attention.
When I think about the full impact of substance use and addiction in our communities, it’s hard to truly comprehend. The loss of 100,000 sons, daughters, parents, friends and neighbors is overwhelming, and living with this horrible disease is no less tragic. According to the most recent statistics, 20.3 million people ages 12 and older are battling addiction. Since illicit substances have only become more and more potent and accessible, local and state agencies and organizations must do all they can to reach people before they are in crisis.
As the president of FEI Systems, I take great pride in working with our teams to provide information technology solutions that document the impact of substance use and addiction treatment and recovery programs and services. One of FEI’s initial contracts were with the U.S. Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to pilot data gathering and reporting systems to assist in the ongoing battle against substance use and addiction in our communities. They remain a strong partner today.
In my tenure here, I’ve seen substance use treatment and recovery trends and programs adapt and evolve. I’ve worked with our teams to expand our portfolio of behavioral health care management offerings to meet the changing needs and assist our more than 30 state and local partners in delivering and tracking programs and services. FEI’s care management solutions include electronic health record platforms and federal grant management and prevention modules that assist in the development of, and easy reporting on, programs that align with SAMHSA goals and strategic frameworks. We’ve been fighting this battle for a very long time, and our dedicated team remains passionate about providing solutions that improve the lives of those struggling with addiction.
But, I know there’s still a long way to go.
I applaud the latest SAMHSA initiative to increase grant funding for prevention enterprises, and urge our partners to take advantage of this new opportunity to further expand their own prevention efforts. The Harm Reduction Grant, announced in December, will provide $30 million over the next three years for an estimated 25 agencies and organizations seeking to expand community-based overdose prevention programs. These include educational initiatives and counseling, as well as distribution of overdose-reversal medication and test strips for fentanyl (a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin).
When I looked deeper into what applicants for the Harm Reduction Grant could do with the funds, I was encouraged to see specific mention of prevention programming that addresses stigma. As we’ve seen in our work around the world with agencies and organizations serving populations impacted by diseases like HIV, which also carry a societal stigma, fear of being socially ostracized can have a huge impact on the effectiveness of treatment, or even the desire to seek help. It’s vital that no one feel like they cannot access what they need to recover from substance use disorder and thrive free from addiction.
I am hopeful this much-needed funding for overdose prevention initiatives will help curb an epidemic that has plagued our country for far too many decades. At FEI, we are here to help, and I’m proud to be part of a mission-driven organization that is improving the delivery of health and human services to vulnerable populations. I look forward to seeing the success of the programs that will be impacted by this new grant funding and believe we too can be a part of the greater solution to end substance use and addiction.
